sexual predator

American  

[sek-shoo-uhl pred-uh-ter, -tawr] / ˈsɛk ʃu əl ˈprɛd ə tər, -ˌtɔr /

noun

1. a person who repeatedly commits sexual assault or other sex-related crimes, often targeting a specific type of victim.

   A sexual predator has been jailed for 13 years for his involvement in a child sex-trafficking ring.

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Other Word Forms

• sexual predation noun

Etymology

Origin of sexual predator

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Streeting said the appointment was a "scandal", adding that "the really worrying aspect is... a candidate's known association with a convicted sexual predator did not weigh heavily enough on decision-makers".

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Farrow, who lives directly across the street from a previously relocated violent sexual predator, Calvin Lynn Grassmier, attended that court hearing in Hollywood along with friends Mary Jeters, Linda Adams and Diane Swick.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 5, 2024

His crusade had led to criminal charges against several men — including a jail deputy, but his work also misidentified one person as a sexual predator, according to the sheriff’s office.

From Washington Times • Oct. 2, 2023

Some of her colleagues, she says, classify offenders in five sometimes overlapping categories: the ex-partner, the revenger of perceived wrongs, the rejected suitor, the lonely incompetent suitor and the sexual predator.

From Scientific American • Jul. 26, 2023

Mr. Andersen said his brother-in-law was not a sexual predator and objected to the idea that the new accusation could in any way lead to Lyle and Erik having their case re-examined.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2023